— Cape Town Bulls coach Jake White has made six changes to his starting lineup for Sunday’s United Rugby Championship match against the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld. Johan Goosen will start at fullback and Sbu Nkosi will be on the wing (3pm kickoff).
Goosen was omitted from the Springbok Test squad that was revealed earlier on Friday, but was selected for the SA A team that will face Munster and Bristol on their end-of-year tour.
Now, the 30-year-old will don the No. 15 shirt, and his massive kicking boot will be a crucial influence in attempting to win territory for the Bulls, who have struggled to escape their own half in recent weeks.
Goosen replaces Kurt-Lee Arendse, who will fly with the Boks to Dublin on Saturday for the upcoming test against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium the following weekend.
Cornal Hendricks, who was selected for the SA A squad, will replace Stedman Gans at outside centre, while Nkosi will gain much-needed playing time at left wing after missing the last two Bulls matches before to the Bok tour.
Zak Burger has replaced Embrose Papier at scrumhalf, and WJ Steenkamp will start at No. 8 due to Elrigh Louw’s ankle injury sustained in last week’s 44-22 victory against Benetton in Treviso.
Walt Steenkamp, who is back in the No. 4 shirt, is the only other new face, with Janko Swanepoel sitting on the bench.
White has unexpectedly omitted Morné Steyn from the match 23 despite the star kicker’s key touchline conversions against Benetton. Stravino Jacobs and Wandisile Simelane have replaced Steyn in the backline.
Bulls Group
15 Johan Goosen 14 David Kriel 13 Cornal Hendricks 12 Harold Vorster 11 Sbu Nkosi ten Christopher Smith 9 Zak Burger 8 WJ Steenkamp 7 Marco van Staden 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain) 5 Ruan Nortje 4 Walt Steenkamp 3 Francois Klopper 2 Bismarck du Plessis 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Bench: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels 17 Simphiwe Matanzima 18 Mornay Smith 19 Janko Swanepoel 20 Ruan Vermaak 21 Embrose Papier 22 Stravino Jacobs 23 Wandisile Simelane.